Beverage dispensing apparatus

ABSTRACT

A beverage dispensing device fluid has an extended conduit nozzle to permit the dispensing of a pressurized beverages at a high flow rate without producing excessive foaming comprising a streamlined valve assembly and a downward extending nozzle which permits a range of containers to be filled from the bottom without submerging the nozzle in the beverage.

CROSS-REFERENCES TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

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STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY-SPONSORED RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT

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REFERENCE TO AN APPENDIX

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BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field Of The Invention

This invention relates generally to a nozzle for dispensing carbonated or pressurized beverages, and more specifically to an extended nozzle for adapting a conventional carbonated beverage faucet to dispense carbonated or pressurized beverages at high flow rates with minimal foaming.

2. Description Of The Related Art

The primary advantage of the present invention is that there is no thermal break in the tap. The present invention is integral with the cooling systems utilized in a beer tower, and the extended tap is not an extension, but rather is an integral piece. The entire unit remains chilled at the same temperature as the tank. The beer dispensing system 39 of the present invention has the ability to cool various elements of the system and maintain these elements within this acceptable temperature range.

The lower mass of the present invention allows the beverage to remain chilled while it rests in the faucet. The present invention has a wall thickness of less than 0.006 inches. The larger mass of the prior art beer tap extension acts as a heat conductor, thereby transferring the heat of the room to the beverage as it sits in the tap.

Another primary deficiency of the fast tap beverage dispensing apparatus is that it is difficult to clean, whereas the present invention can be cleaned with a bottle brush. It is well known that the residue that can accumulate in crevices of beverage taps and lines. The residue can provide substrate for bacterial growth, and bits of residue can come loose and flow into the beverage. The prior art fast tap extensions impose a seam on the tap, which allows for residue accumulation, and the extension is submerged in the beverage itself as pouring occurs. The present invention extends to the bottom of the glass, however, a user lowers the glass away from the mouth of the tap as the beverage is poured, so that the tap of the present invention is not submerged in the beverage.

The present invention is designed to eliminate waste by increasing the yield of beverage per glass. There is a decrease in, foam relative to the fast tap extension prior art inventions.

In another embodiment, the invention has a slight pinch in the rim around the opening of the tap. This controls the rate at which the beverage flows from the mouth of the tap. The invention can fill an average 16 ounce beverage glass, which is the standard in the industry, in about four seconds.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is directed to a beverage dispensing device for dispensing pressurized beverages at a flow rate substantially higher than prior mechanical tap apparatus without producing excessive foaming. The invention is a beverage dispensing apparatus for dispensing a pressurized beverage comprising a nozzle through which the pressurized beverage exits through an internal passageway, a liquid receiving end adapted to attach as the end element of a pressurized beverage dispensing system, and a liquid dispensing end that dispenses the pressurized beverage, wherein the cross-sectional area of the internal passageway of the nozzle decreases from the liquid receiving end to the liquid dispensing end. The apparatus is adapted at its liquid receiving end to removably and sealingly fit to a standard tap of a pressurized the end of the conventional pressurized beverage dispensing system

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

FIG. 1 is a side view showing the components of a beverage dispensing system with a schematic sectional view of the first embodiment of the rapid beverage dispensing device.

In describing the preferred embodiment of the invention which is illustrated in the drawings, specific terminology will be resorted to for the sake of clarity. However, it is not intended that the invention be limited to the specific term so selected and it is to be understood that each specific term includes all technical equivalents which operate in a similar manner to accomplish a similar purpose.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

As shown in FIG. 1, the rapid beverage dispensing device 20 comprises a neck assembly 22, a valve assembly 24, and an extended nozzle 26. The neck assembly 22 is substantially vertical. The rapid beverage dispensing device 20 is designed to attach to a conventional pressurized beverage dispensing system, such as a beer dispensing system or similar beverage-containing reservoir and for conveying a beverage from a container or beer keg to the device 20. A threaded shank 28 connects the device 20 to the conventional system.

Neck assembly 22 of the rapid beverage dispensing device 20 positions and supports the rapid beverage dispensing device 20 in a manner that allows for the bottom-initiated filling of a wide variety of container sizes, for example, ranging from glasses to pitchers. The neck assembly 22 has threads 28 to attach to a standard beverage reservoir or a draft dispensing tower column.

While certain preferred embodiments of the present invention have been disclosed in detail, it is to be understood that various modifications may be adopted without departing from the spirit of the invention or scope of the following claims. 

1. A pressurized beverage dispensing system having an elongated nozzle having a liquid receiving end adapted to couple to the shank of a beverage reservoir, and a liquid dispensing end that dispenses the pressurized beverage at least initially to atmospheric conditions, and an internal passageway between the liquid receiving end and the liquid dispensing end, wherein the cross-sectional area of the internal passageway of the nozzle decreases from the liquid receiving end to the liquid dispensing end such that the cross sectional area profile of the internal passageway approximates the cross sectional area profile of a free falling stream of liquid at ambient pressure.
 2. A beverage dispensing system comprising: a container holding a carbonated beverage; an energy source that pressurizes the carbonated beverage in the container; a valve in fluid communication with the beverage in the container, the valve having an open position and a closed position; a faucet having a liquid receiving end in fluid communication with the valve and a liquid dispensing end; an elongated nozzle having a liquid receiving end in fluid communication with and, an internal passageway having a cross sectional area through which said carbonated beverage flows when said valve is in the open position, and a liquid dispensing end having an opening through which the carbonated beverage at least initially exits to atmospheric conditions, wherein the cross-sectional area of the internal passageway of the nozzle decreases from the liquid receiving end of the nozzle to the liquid dispensing end of the nozzle such that the carbonated beverage flowing through the nozzle substantially fills the entire cross-sectional area of the nozzle and is in substantially constant contact with the surface of the internal passageway from the liquid receiving end of the nozzle to the liquid dispensing end of the nozzle.
 3. An apparatus for dispensing beer, comprising a beer reservoir, tubing connected to the reservoir, a pressure source that pressurizes the reservoir for conveying the beer from the reservoir and through the tubing, a faucet having a beer receiving end in fluid communication with the tubing and a beer dispensing end, the beer dispensing end having an outer surface; an elongated nozzle having a beer receiving end, the beer receiving end having an inner surface, and a beer dispensing end, and a seal that provides a fluid seal between the inner surface of the receiving end of the elongated nozzle and the outer surface of beer dispensing end of the faucet, where the elongated nozzle is configured to regulate the formation of foam during dispensing. 